Necklace.



W. SCHENK.

NECKLACE. I APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I9I8.

1,289,277. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

WILLIAM SCHENK, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

NECKLACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed May s, 1918. Serial No. 232,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SOHENK, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Necklaces,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a necklace or collar of novel construction,which is open in front to display the neck of the wearer, and is at thesame time, self-sustaining so as to dispense with clasps or similarfasteners. The necklace is so formed, as to fit snugly and withoutexerting pressure; it requires no adjustment, may be readily put on ortaken off, and forms a desirable article of personal adornment.

The invention consists in the various features of novelty more fullypointed out in the specification and appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a necklace embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a bottom view;

Fig. 3, a perspective view of part of the necklace, looking toward itsinner side, and

Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the spring-controlled links.

The main body of the necklace is composed of a series of links 1, whichare so constituted that the links will be self-sustaining upon the neckof the wearer, though the two front links 1 are spaced from one anotherand are devoid of clasps or similar fastening means. The links arepreferably in the form of plates, and are so connected by means of apair of longitudinally dis posed curved spring wires 2 and 3 that thelinks collectively form an arch with spaced converging ends. Portions ofthese wires are substantially are shaped having diiferent radii, thewire 2 having the shorter radius being arranged above wire 3 having thelonger radius. Upper wire 2 is housed within alined tubular casings 4,formed on the inner face of links 1, in proximity to the upper edgesthereof, while wire 3 is housed within similar casings 5 formed on saidlinks near their lower edges. Both wires have spaced ends and are heresoldered or otherwise attached to the two spaced front links 1 so thatall the links are resiliently connected to each other in such a manneras to be self-sustaining.

The length and curvature of the necklace thus constructed, should besuch, that it link slopes outwardly from top to bottom (Fig. 2) whilethe links collectively assume a dip toward the front (Fig. 1) wherebythe device is adapted to sit snugly and gracefully upon the shoulders.From each end link 1 there projects a pendant composed of a series oflinks 6, which are not spring-controlled, but are connected to eachother at their contiguous transverse edges by hinges 7. These pendantsmerge into and form a continuation of the main springcontrolled body ofthe necklace and fall loosely over the chest of the wearer, being curvedand warped as may be necessary to snugly fit the body, thus augmentingthe artistic efiect of the whole. The links 1 and 7 form a continuousstrip which fits around the back and front of the neck and hangsdownwardly over the chest, thereby providing an open front stole likenecklace which leaves the front of the neck exposed. As shown on thedrawing the plates are substantially trapezoidal in shape with theinclined ends of adjacent plates fitting loosely against each other,said plates being suitably curved and warped so that the necklaceconforms to the shape of the neck and chest and fits snugly against thesame. The necklace is thus composed of articulated plates of which theadjacent edges are fitted loosely together so that the plates present asubstantially continuous outer surface throughout the length oi? thestrip, the plates being curved and warped in the manner necessary to fitsnugly against the body of the wearer. It will be understood, however,that this exact shape of the plates is not at all essential to the invention, since the plates or links can be constructed in any suitable sizeand shape as may be desired.

It will be seen that by the construction described, the springs (beingnormally not under tension) will limit the inward or con tractingmovement of the links and thus hold them. in their normal archedposition, so that the necklace will not exert any discomfortingpressure. At the same time the springs permit the necklace to be spreadsufliciently to clear the neck while being put on or taken off.

The necklace is designed to be set with gems 8 or to be otherwiseembellished, while the particular shape of the links shown, may bevaried without departing from the spirit of my invention. The necklacefits and holds to the neck without further adjustment, and by disclosingthe graceful lines of the wearers neck and bust, is Well adapted to beworn with evening gowns.

I claim:

A stole like necklace comprising curved spring wires, links secured onsaid wires,

portions of said wires being substantially are shaped, the wire havingthe shorter radius located above the wire having the 15 flexiblyconnected links depending from 20 said first named links, and formingtwo converging pendants.

WILLIAM SCHENK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0'.

